The Art and Fashion of Aitor Throup

February 5, 2007 3:42 PM

Aitor Throup is a fashion designer from Argentina. But I wish he drew graphic novels.
posted by HighTechUnderpants (17 comments total)

Found in Details magazine.
posted by HighTechUnderpants at 3:43 PM on February 5, 2007

It's like Shel Silverstein and Coco Chanel had a love child that was then adopted and raised by Bill Sienkiewicz! I have no idea what I mean by that!
posted by hincandenza at 3:49 PM on February 5, 2007

But I wish he drew graphic novels.

All he might need is the right person to ask/hire him. And being that so many creative comicfolk are actively online (*****,etc.), getting their attention wouldn't be too hard.
posted by grabbingsand at 3:55 PM on February 5, 2007

in the about page he mentions that he has always drawn comics but hasn't yet produced a finished one. so, chances may be good.
posted by cubby at 4:09 PM on February 5, 2007

You're right on the Bill Sienkiewicz call.

His stuff is amazing and would make a rad graphic novel.

The coats with animal hoods look like something out of a grant morrison book.
posted by cosmodemonic at 4:13 PM on February 5, 2007

very cool stuff, like a fashionable jay ryan. thanks. (...now to be a jerk)

graphic novels

all the cool graphic novel kids just say comics. there are many reasons why.
posted by pokermonk at 4:20 PM on February 5, 2007

reminds me of Enki Bilal. (is he famous in US too?)
posted by darkripper at 4:29 PM on February 5, 2007

pokermonk: all the cool graphic novel kids just say comics. there are many reasons why.

All the cool kids just let people use what words they choose.

That's a great website. Another reason to add to my ever-growing why-I-should-move-to-Buenos-Aires-list. I like his loose drawing style.
posted by Kattullus at 4:35 PM on February 5, 2007

This guy is like a dark Walter Van Beirendonck, I wonder if he studied under him.
posted by Count at 5:33 PM on February 5, 2007

If anyone is curious this is Walter Van Beirendonck.
And he actually does do graphic novels.
posted by Count at 5:38 PM on February 5, 2007

That was a gas./
a-ghas ]t[.

and Details¿ Puhlease, fucking George goddamned Bush. Sheee-it./
if that' s taste I'll have none of it thanks.
posted by alicesshoe at 6:08 PM on February 5, 2007

What hincandenza said, nice!
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 7:35 PM on February 5, 2007

Thierry Muggler should call his lawyer.
posted by Dizzy at 7:53 PM on February 5, 2007

All the cool kids just let people use what words they choose.

Tralse.
posted by pokermonk at 8:15 PM on February 5, 2007

pokermonk: Tralse.

Hah! Well played, well played! Tralse is one of those words I wish I could use in normal conversation. There seem to be all to many times when it seems apposite. However, if I would use it I'd just get blank stares. Point made. However, I still maintain that "be[ing] a jerk" to people for using the term "graphic novel" especially so shortly after people got hassled for using the word "comics" is counterproductive. I've never understood why people can't just use "comic" for the short form and "graphic novel" for the long form, like "short story" and "novel" in prose.
posted by Kattullus at 9:01 PM on February 5, 2007

The major problem we are running into with the very popular marketing definition of "graphic novel" (which is the most common usage) is the same as if we called every long form book a novel. It's confusing, complicating and/or a bit misleading. Maybe a great example is the recent McSweeney's comics issue: is it a graphic novel or a collection of graphic novels or a collection of excerpts from graphic novels or cartoons peppering excerpts from graphic novels or a comics anthology? Also, some nonsensical segmentation of the readership has occurred because of the marketing definition... folks will read "graphic novels" all day but won't touch the same type of work in a serialized or uncollected form.

It's all well and good if we want to use euphemisms to draw people into types of work, like introducing your grandparents to "interactive entertainment" instead of video games. But a person who already has some appreciation or understanding of a medium shouldn't feel bashful about using the appropriate and accurate terminology.

Comics is the form, graphic novel is just a specific form of it.

Hopefully I'm not coming across as a total prick, but I did feel it was worth noting.

(And maybe H.T. Underpants does wish that Aitor Throup made graphic novels and not as much any other type of comics, in which case I am just being a jerk although again unintentionally.)
posted by pokermonk at 6:50 AM on February 6, 2007

Well yeah, the term "graphic novel" is fluid and not nailed down. I favor one meaning (i.e. as a term for long-form comics) but others use it differently. On his blog, Eddie Campbell broke it down/griped about it and I don't really have much to add to it. The only thing I'd like to add is that if In Cold Blood can be considered a non-fiction novel, graphic novels can be non-fiction as well as fiction.

Comics encompasses a great deal of range, from Garfield to the comics reportage of Joe Sacco. Why everything should be forced into the same box is opaque to me. Nobody objects to fiction having different categories. Therefore, I agree with you when you say: "Comics is the form, graphic novel is just a specific form of it."
posted by Kattullus at 4:49 PM on February 6, 2007